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UNICEF and key partners discuss child protection

UNICEF and key partners discuss child protection

Today, UNICEF and the Ministries of Human Development and Health focused on protecting vulnerable children in potentially high-risk situations. It was part of a validation session for a national preparatory exercise, together with PAHO and relevant government ministries. It is all a precursor to a global ministerial meeting that will take place in Bogota, Colombia, in November. Today, the relevant parties that gathered told the media that today’s forum would bring together key groups at the policy level with a commitment to ending violence against children. UNICEF Representative in Belize, Alison Parker, said that parenting was one of the key issues that needed to be emphasized, while Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa from the Ministry of Health explained that access to free medical services for children was another area of ​​focus. For Ministry of Human Development Representative Dylan Williams, it is ensuring that there are sufficient resources to provide these children with adequate care where they play a role.

UNICEF and key partners discuss child protection

Alison Parker

Alison Parker, Country Representative, UNICEF

“For Belize, the data shows that the ages of one to four have the highest levels of physical violence in Belize, so we look at physical violence, what drives that, what causes that. So universal access for support for parents and caregivers, because we have made significant progress with legislation. We have the Domestic Violence Act, etc., but what support do we then need to give parents and caregivers to ensure that children can grow up in a safe and loving environment.”

Dylan Williams

Dylan Williams

Dylan Williams, Director of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Human Development.

“Part of what we found recently in terms of an evaluation of child protection systems that we have is that we have been able to do certain things well in terms of our response. And so that response has been a multi-sectoral response from at least the key agencies. The Ministry of Human Development, the courts, we have the police and of course the Ministry of Health in terms of health services. So we have been able to provide a response in response to all the issues that children may face and so we have been able to do that. Part of the challenge though is that we recognise that even with a strong response, we are falling short in terms of a comprehensive prevention approach. Which should really enable us to prevent these issues from happening in the long term in terms of having a strong response.”

Melissa Diaz-Musa

Melissa Diaz-Musa

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director, Public Health and Welfare, Ministry of Health and Welfare

“When it comes to the health perspectives, areas such as eliminating charges at public health facilities, ensuring good vaccination coverage. Vaccination coverage reduces childhood illnesses and diseases, improving and integrating mental health care into prenatal care. All these things are very important because violence and children. It is multifactorial, so it is not one ministry that is going to take the lead and make that change. We have to continue to work together, so with regard to the social and economic issues or what we call the social determinants. These things, if we work to reduce these things, we will ensure that we reduce violence against children.”